I bet you are really honored to be the Grandson of this Country Legend. It really sad that I do not hear his music on the radio anymore. O btw we Hoosiers really revere this man also.
My dad would often quietly sing this song to himself after more than a few drinks. That's when we knew it was time to tell him to head to bed. He's 91 now and still going strong despite a life of cigarettes, beer and wine...all of which he's given up in that same order.
My dad and uncle were Marines that fought in the Pacific in WW II though not in the same unit. At night, the Japanese would shout at them to try to demoralize them. One of the things they would shout was "Roy Acuff you die!" People nowadays have no idea how popular Roy Acuff actually was.
Thankfully the mention that in Ken Burns Special "Country Music" in the 2nd episode. Hope you are watching it.. It's on PBS and if ya missed an episode they probably will show them again. Tonight is the 3rd Episode.. :)
Playing this for my grandma with dementia takes her back to the days she grew up in her family store. To hear her stories, see her sing along, and see her become a little girl again is such a beautiful thing to see.
My grandfather would sing this to us and dance us around the living room! The song took on a whole new meaning when I found a tidbit of family history. Grandpa WAS a "hobo" during the Great Depression! He rode the rails to find work. He happened to find grandma! He did tell of a story of "pole cat stew," but I don't wanna think on that! Thank you for the happy memories. 🥰
Eight years later, he was running for governor, and my grandparents voted for him. When I was a kid in Nashville almost 40 years ago, I remember him waving to us from a little home he has at Opryland USA Themepark.
My uncle Bo Bo (Tom Wrighthouse) could sing this song so fabulously and make the train sound too. It was just wonderful, we will forever miss him, but I know he is in Heaven singing this tune to our beautiful family whom we have lost most of them too.
Roy Acuff deserves to be rememberd how-ever belated for the many times he and others performed to benefit the greater Nashville area schools and other worthy causes.
Debbie Childers It's bittersweet, isn't it. ❤️ My big brother sang this song throughout his childhood and I think he had an old soul because he was born in 1970. Cancer took him from us when he was 15, but I can still hear him in my heart, singing this song.
Man, I’m only 51 yrs old, have always loved the old country music. Up there with Hank sr, Charlie Daniels, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline,, and a few more. Good old country of long ago, lives on
In Australia we did not have the romance of the railway like the 'Wabash Cannonball 'but we did have the 'tea and sugar train'' which ran from Port Augusta in South Australia out onto the Nullabor Plain in Western Australia. As the name suggests it brought food and drink to the railway workers along the line at small settlements. It has long ceased to run and now has its own museum in Victoria- be on the Net I expect too.My uncle Ron Richter worked on the railway there for a time and knew the train well, He played guitar and penned lyrics about the train to the tune of Wabash Cannonball. I recall only a snippet.He fantasised about what he would do if he owned the train-and what he would carry. "Another car to carry me, another one for bread and cheese- You could hear the whistle blowing, you could smell it on the breeze''(the cheese I guess).He was also a shearer and farm worker but died young at 50. He had 8 children-none of whom I have contact with after all these years. Another time. another place..Karl R. Wood Sydney Australia.
Wow, if you ever find more of the Words he wrote to the tune of Wabash Cannonball please share. That one verse was very good, I’d be very interested to read the rest
Not only a great singer and story teller with his songs, but a smart businessman who know talent when he saw it and gave a break to many up and coming artists.
Mr Roy was such a fine man used to go to the Grand ole opry 10 r 12 times a year back in the 60's threw early 80's. he would set and talk to you for hours he was really nice to my dad. each time we went and if he saw dad he would talk to him
Been watching the newly released PBS Ken Burns "Country Music" last 2 nights. Episode 2,last night featured Roy Acuff. I figured Ken Burns would've shown this Movie Clip 1940, instead of showing pictures of 1939 Acuff, with recordings from the 1960s. He shown a clip of Uncle Dave Macon,from this same 1940 Movie. This clip is unique of Judge Hay blowing the Steam Whistle :Hushpuckeana, and Roy doing a Train Whiste with his mouth.
I wasn't born yet when he sung this great country song but only a few years later I began loving COUNTRY music and still do BUT NOT WHAT IS OUT THERE TODAY!!
Brings back some good memories, In the early '50s when stationed at Ft Campbell KY I used to spend many a Saturday night setting in the old Ryman watching all the stars of the Grand Ole Opry. We got to know Roy, at the time he owned a "Cave" and the adjacent amusement area, with a lake and paddle boats in Clarksville. There was a dance floor(concrete) at the cave mouth that was always cool. He would come up and visit with us.
Just to hear Roy Acuff sing The Wahbash Cannonball. So profoundly clear as a bell and pronounciated . Left me in no doubt, the message of all who came after him were saying. The likes of Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Boxcar Willie. Showed the greatest form of flattery. For Roy as Boy , really new his stuff and he’s still inspiring future generations. God Bless him!❤
I am 11 years old boy from Pune , India . I love trains. I love this song very much. My dad loves american country and folk music. Good to see roy acuff video. I am also looking for video of box car willy singing this song. I love randy travis singing this song.
Have you read about the Transcontinental Railroad? It connected the Western railroad from the Pacific Ocean to Promontory, Utah to the Eastern railroad from East area to Promontory, Utah. Promontory, Utah is in the middle of nowhere still, but that is where the train tracks met.and joined together.
@@GrandadBaz Boxcar Willie is a fine singer and he does have a nice train whistle but he's not in the same class as Roy and I think even Boxcar would agree if he were alive.
My grandfather and I used to watch the Game of the Week every Saturday afternoon hosted by Dizzie Dean and Pee Wee Reese. When we were lucky Diz would break out in the song made immortal by Roy Acuff 'Wabash Cannonball' . He would sing a few verses at a time, interrupted only by the game. I would give anything to spend one more lazy Saturday afternoon with Grandpa. Diz, Pee Wee, and Falstaff!
Classic. Chuck Barry's influence for his song 'Promised Land' was this. He loved this song and admittedly took the music from it and rewrote the words using different cities to tell his own story. Always interesting & cool how so many of the rock & rollers from the 1950s and R&B, and Soul and Blues artists all gave interviews talking about how much they liked &/or were influenced by some Country artists. And of course some Country artists said the same about some of the Blues, R&B and Soul artists. Not always the case, but for the most part back then it seemed (regardless of how some music fan themselves felt) most of the artists from all these different genres of music had a commonality of respect for each others music and influence.
Mr Roy can be seen through clips of old tnn to the late 1980,s early 1990,s he died in Nov 1992 about 89 years old you can even see him doing I saw the light with June Carter cash and hank Williams Sr kate Smith show NBC March April 1952 on TH-cam pretty cool
Did anyone notice to the left of Roy is Hank Williams. Yes, at this time he and Roy were playing together though not regularly. This may well be the earliest film of Hiram Williams.
@@brucemountjoy6372 Yes I know. Hank began playing WFSA radio around 1937 as a regular guest by the time he was not quite 15. By the time this footage was recorded, he was already playing with seasoned musicians of the likes of Roy Acuff though not on a regular basis. He was known to work with Roy periodically and it should be known that Roy was one of the many that paved his way to the Opry.
Man, that train sure took a circuitous route!! From New York to St. Louis before heading up to Minnesota then down to Alabama. And all that was before heading to the Pacific Coast!!
Love this. Proud of my grandfather, the King of country music. Thank you all for your kind comments
Tu es vraiment le petit fils de roy acuff ?
My mom would sing this song often all through our childhood. The sweetness of this music will always be with us. God Bless Roy Acuff....
Hey someone in another video said he wanted Roy's family to know Roy used to visit his dad in the orphanage
From Knoxville Tennessee we salute the king of country!
I bet you are really honored to be the Grandson of this Country Legend. It really sad that I do not hear his music on the radio anymore. O btw we Hoosiers really revere this man also.
Roy's version of The Wabash Cannonball will forever be the greatest version ever and one of the greatest songs in music history.
My dad would often quietly sing this song to himself after more than a few drinks. That's when we knew it was time to tell him to head to bed. He's 91 now and still going strong despite a life of cigarettes, beer and wine...all of which he's given up in that same order.
Hey, maybe it was the cigarettes, beer and wine that helped him live so long.
It's fantastic fantastic, 91!!!yea-yea... drinking should be avoided earlier or later... better earlier)
Glad to hear that. My dad will be 91 in March 2022. I have a simular same situation as your dad. God Bless you and your family.
Damn.... thumbs up for your dad....👍👍
@@tobyflenderson6972 Sounds like relaxation is the key. cigarettes, beer, wine, music
If you don't know Roy Acuff, you don't know Country Music.
My dad and uncle were Marines that fought in the Pacific in WW II though not in the same unit. At night, the Japanese would shout at them to try to demoralize them. One of the things they would shout was "Roy Acuff you die!" People nowadays have no idea how popular Roy Acuff actually was.
Seenya59 phenomenal
Thankfully the mention that in Ken Burns Special "Country Music" in the 2nd episode. Hope you are watching it.. It's on PBS and if ya missed an episode they probably will show them again. Tonight is the 3rd Episode.. :)
Hey that's interesting,, thanks so much for sharing!!
My dad too fought in the Pacific in WW11
Thanks for this story, my grandpa was navy in Pearl Harbor
Playing this for my grandma with dementia takes her back to the days she grew up in her family store. To hear her stories, see her sing along, and see her become a little girl again is such a beautiful thing to see.
That is very sweet . You are a good grandson !
My grandfather would sing this to us and dance us around the living room! The song took on a whole new meaning when I found a tidbit of family history. Grandpa WAS a "hobo" during the Great Depression! He rode the rails to find work. He happened to find grandma! He did tell of a story of "pole cat stew," but I don't wanna think on that! Thank you for the happy memories. 🥰
He looks so young here but in 1940 he was 37. He is one of my all time favorites, thanks for the upload!!
Jef Rey So by the time I was born he was 49! Great song I'm glad Box car Wille kept it alive
My dad loved this song
Eight years later, he was running for governor, and my grandparents voted for him.
When I was a kid in Nashville almost 40 years ago, I remember him waving to us from a little home he has at Opryland USA Themepark.
He definitely looks younger than 37 here.. wow he looks like 22
The one and only Roy Acuff and The SMB. Priceless footage.
Thanks for viewing George! Roberts' family loved Roy Acuff dearly
My Grandfather sang this song all the time while he was puttering around the house when I was growing up :)
My Dad brought me here. May he rest in peace.
Wish we had life like this again
Same
@@ascientist3659 today's world is soooo much better,BS
Wishing for a depression, lol
@@randyhunter8037 You got food and clean water
@@creighton8069 You mean when people hung their neighbors from nooses because they were the "wrong" pigment?
My uncle Bo Bo (Tom Wrighthouse) could sing this song so fabulously and make the train sound too. It was just wonderful, we will forever miss him, but I know he is in Heaven singing this tune to our beautiful family whom we have lost most of them too.
Roy Acuff deserves to be rememberd how-ever belated for the many times he and others performed to benefit the greater Nashville area schools and other worthy causes.
My dad got me to listen to Bluegrass when I was younger. I am glad he did. True music from the heart.
+notsomildrose83 My Mom did with me. I listen to this and I just think of her dancing around our home cleaning. I really miss her.
Debbie Childers It's bittersweet, isn't it. ❤️ My big brother sang this song throughout his childhood and I think he had an old soul because he was born in 1970. Cancer took him from us when he was 15, but I can still hear him in my heart, singing this song.
It sure is beautiful music alright!!!!!!
I’m 21 and love this in 2019. You see music like today’s pop and stuff will all fade but legends like this. It will stay forever
It's incredibly pure.
I agree all the way. I'm 23 and I love this music too.
Man, I’m only 51 yrs old, have always loved the old country music. Up there with Hank sr, Charlie Daniels, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline,, and a few more. Good old country of long ago, lives on
In Australia we did not have the romance of the railway like the 'Wabash Cannonball 'but we did have the 'tea and sugar train'' which ran from Port Augusta in South Australia out onto the Nullabor Plain in Western Australia. As the name suggests it brought food and drink to the railway workers along the line at small settlements. It has long ceased to run and now has its own museum in Victoria- be on the Net I expect too.My uncle Ron Richter worked on the railway there for a time and knew the train well, He played guitar and penned lyrics about the train to the tune of Wabash Cannonball. I recall only a snippet.He fantasised about what he would do if he owned the train-and what he would carry. "Another car to carry me, another one for bread and cheese- You could hear the whistle blowing, you could smell it on the breeze''(the cheese I guess).He was also a shearer and farm worker but died young at 50. He had 8 children-none of whom I have contact with after all these years. Another time. another place..Karl R. Wood Sydney Australia.
Wow, if you ever find more of the Words he wrote to the tune of Wabash Cannonball please share. That one verse was very good, I’d be very interested to read the rest
Thank you Carl. I wis
🐊 Very nice imagery
We still don’t know who’s gonna fill their shoes
Roy Acuff's version of Wabash Cannonball will forever be the greatest performance of this song.
Love My grandfather would play this all the time
Not only a great singer and story teller with his songs, but a smart businessman who know talent when he saw it and gave a break to many up and coming artists.
My grandfather who grew up in the bootheel of MO and moved to MI in the 20's loved this song and could sing a very good rendition of it.
God that man could sing! That dobro player could play in any band! Thanks for the 👍 guys!
Beecher Ray "Pete" Kirby a.k.a. Bashful Brother Oswald on dobro. Was part of the SMB from 1939 until Roy was called home in 1992.
They'll never be another Roy Acuff King if country music ! Love to hear him sing the Walbash Cannon Ball !! R.I.P. Roy
Nice comment. How are you?
@@NoraWood-dl6iv Doing good and how bout yourself ?
@@victorjeffers1993 I'm good. I'm from New Jersey, where are you chatting from?
@@NoraWood-dl6iv Tennessee
@@victorjeffers1993 nice to meet you. Hope we can be friends?
Mr Roy was such a fine man used to go to the Grand ole opry 10 r 12 times a year back in the 60's threw early 80's. he would set and talk to you for hours he was really nice to my dad. each time we went and if he saw dad he would talk to him
Been watching the newly released PBS Ken Burns "Country Music" last 2 nights. Episode 2,last night featured Roy Acuff. I figured Ken Burns would've shown this Movie Clip 1940, instead of showing pictures of 1939 Acuff, with recordings from the 1960s. He shown a clip of Uncle Dave Macon,from this same 1940 Movie. This clip is unique of Judge Hay blowing the Steam Whistle :Hushpuckeana, and Roy doing a Train Whiste with his mouth.
Brought back memories of my Dad he used to play the guitar and sing this
I am a huge Steve Goodman fan, but this is without a doubt the number one train song of all time.
I wasn't born yet when he sung this great country song but only a few years later I began loving COUNTRY music and still do BUT NOT WHAT IS OUT THERE TODAY!!
Brings back some good memories, In the early '50s when stationed at Ft Campbell KY I used to spend many a Saturday night setting in the old Ryman watching all the stars of the Grand Ole Opry. We got to know Roy, at the time he owned a "Cave" and the adjacent amusement area, with a lake and paddle boats in Clarksville. There was a dance floor(concrete) at the cave mouth that was always cool. He would come up and visit with us.
Great story!
Am from Kenya this my kind of songs
Music is universal as long as you feel it brother.
Bless ya Joseph
Absolutely Love music this timeless ❤️❤️🤠 love roy acuff
The King of Country Music. How quickly America forgets legends.
O0o0iiiev2j22nklp
My mother was 8 years old in 1940. She told me that the Wabash Cannonball was played on the radio so much that it nearly drove her mad! LOLOLOL.
Woody Guthrie would be proud of this rendition. Love his train whistle.
I wonder how many thousands of times he sang that song in his lifetime!
If Roy Acuff knew how country music turned out to be he would be rolling in his grave right now. Today's country music is garbage.
Nah, he'd be oiling the rifle :)
Amen brother
He wpuld be glad peoplecare buying the Music.
He helped shape Country Music as it is Today.
Agree
Please, don't even call it country music.
Just to hear Roy Acuff sing The Wahbash Cannonball. So profoundly clear as a bell and pronounciated . Left me in no doubt, the message of all who came after him were saying. The likes of Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Boxcar Willie. Showed the greatest form of flattery. For Roy as Boy , really new his stuff and he’s still inspiring future generations. God Bless him!❤
I'm proud to from we're people still sing like this
Wow !!! Thanks for posting this...Roy is the Grand Father of country music !!!
No one covered this song better! RIP Mr.Acuff.❤
all my loving by the beatles and roy singing the wabash always make me cry
I am 11 years old boy from Pune , India . I love trains. I love this song very much. My dad loves american country and folk music. Good to see roy acuff video.
I am also looking for video of box car willy singing this song.
I love randy travis singing this song.
Have you read about the Transcontinental Railroad? It connected the Western railroad from the Pacific Ocean to Promontory, Utah to the Eastern railroad from East area to Promontory, Utah. Promontory, Utah is in the middle of nowhere still, but that is where the train tracks met.and joined together.
UNBELIEVEABLE GREAT RESPECTABLE WONDERFUL REAL CLASS MUSIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU WHOEVER POSTED THIS
I used to play this song to my kids when they 6 and 7 years old. Yhey loved the song
Now that is country gold clean music god bless roy acuff
Thanks for the upload
Mr. Acuff also did Streamline Cannonball, another winner.
Nobody sings this song like Roy Acuff.
Lenny Buttz I'd like to disagree with you there I think Box car Willie did an excellent version and his whistle was far better
@@GrandadBaz Boxcar Willie does do a good job, I also like The Carters version, June really sells it.
@@lennybuttz2162 And we mustn't discount Hank Snow!
@@wbrehaut I like Hank a lot and his version is good but I still think Roy Acuff owns this song.
@@GrandadBaz Boxcar Willie is a fine singer and he does have a nice train whistle but he's not in the same class as Roy and I think even Boxcar would agree if he were alive.
My grandfather and I used to watch the Game of the Week every Saturday afternoon hosted by Dizzie Dean and Pee Wee Reese. When we were lucky Diz would break out in the song made immortal by Roy Acuff 'Wabash Cannonball' . He would sing a few verses at a time, interrupted only by the game. I would give anything to spend one more lazy Saturday afternoon with Grandpa. Diz, Pee Wee, and Falstaff!
Mr. Kleinman, Blattner worked with Diz from 1955 to 1959, and Reese from 1960 to 1965. So, both!
What do we have , but sweet memories ?
What a great song
Classic. Chuck Barry's influence for his song 'Promised Land' was this. He loved this song and admittedly took the music from it and rewrote the words using different cities to tell his own story.
Always interesting & cool how so many of the rock & rollers from the 1950s and R&B, and Soul and Blues artists all gave interviews talking about how much they liked &/or were influenced by some Country artists.
And of course some Country artists said the same about some of the Blues, R&B and Soul artists.
Not always the case, but for the most part back then it seemed (regardless of how some music fan themselves felt) most of the artists from all these different genres of music had a commonality of respect for each others music and influence.
Errr.... Barry's is really Berry's. .. Mr. Maybelline :)
Wooov thanks this is old coyntry song!!! 🎶🎶👉👉💫💫
This is my favorite song of Roy Acuff ❤
Introducing Roy and the group was "The Solemn Old Judge" George D. Hay, host of the Grand Ole Opry
My favorite song
Dad used to sing this to me when I was little. I am 60 now, and I wish he could sing it for me one more time, but he is gone now.
A heavenly slice of Americana.
The first record my grand father ever bought.
That's a sure country voice. Nobody sings in that authentic way anymore.
Roy Acuff;s diction is so perfect it almost seems funny - but it's not funny, it's perfect.
Does anyone else wonder when he is not on tour Keith Richards listens to country music from the 1940's-1980.?
What a gem this is!
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Great to hear his version of the lyrics.
Mr Roy can be seen through clips of old tnn to the late 1980,s early 1990,s he died in Nov 1992 about 89 years old you can even see him doing I saw the light with June Carter cash and hank Williams Sr kate Smith show NBC March April 1952 on TH-cam pretty cool
Did anyone notice to the left of Roy is Hank Williams. Yes, at this time he and Roy were playing together though not regularly. This may well be the earliest film of Hiram Williams.
Wow really?
I think you're mistaken. At this time, Hank Williams was only 17 years old and was still 9 years from going to the Opry.
@@brucemountjoy6372 Yes I know. Hank began playing WFSA radio around 1937 as a regular guest by the time he was not quite 15. By the time this footage was recorded, he was already playing with seasoned musicians of the likes of Roy Acuff though not on a regular basis. He was known to work with Roy periodically and it should be known that Roy was one of the many that paved his way to the Opry.
@@brucemountjoy6372 When you look at Hank sr timeline life he did appear on this show in the summer of 1940 w/acuff.
@Creighton the Histoman yea he was only 16 !!!
I love this song, From The Version By The Carter Family - Boots Randolph On Saxophone. Great Song
his legend will l last forever
Man, that train sure took a circuitous route!! From New York to St. Louis before heading up to Minnesota then down to Alabama. And all that was before heading to the Pacific Coast!!
Fuckin classic! I always get riled up when I hear 🎶ur traveling thru the jungle on the wabash cannon ball!! Rip Roy ur a legend❤
Incredible !
Awesome video.......
Great tune!
i long for days i have not lived in, simple times, may have been hard but that was living.
I love roy..I been to his house..
This is a great song no one can sing it as roy
My first time seeing him this young.
you can tell that even these “simple” southern folk have mighty intellect. times were really different
I like the song❤❤
This calms my soul
Best I ever heard.
Still here in 2022
Pause at 1:26 and you'll see Roy Acuff and to the left of him is Hank Williams sr , at the age of 16 during this time. Spectacular!
Thats Lonnie Wilson, Hank was still in Montgomery at this point.
Wao increíble!
It’s just so good
HBD RA! ✌️🤠✨
Such a great America back then!
Don't listen to Dave. Roy is great! I listened to this a handful of times before listening to a handful of others.
he used to balance the bow on his nose at the grandole opre in the 70s and i think roy clark did too while 2 steppin
Wish I could have met him guess his singing runs in our family
Awesome!
JUST WATCHED HIM AND BOX CAR SING SAME SONG WOW
The best!
THIS IS REAL MUSIC ...
Roy acuff:Singer , 1903-1992
Hank Williams: Guitar, 1923-1953
Brother Oswald: guitar , 1911-2002
Henry Robinson:Bass , 1910-1982
Host:Charles Winston 1868-1957
The host is definitely George D Hay. "The Solemn Old Judge" was the founder of the Opry.
A true legend forever
My daddy wotked for MOP may have been on this as we are from Tennessee.
the Tennessee original. A Volunteer original
WOW!!!❤❤
A true clasic